You’re in your backyard, enjoying some rare Maine sunshine, maybe flipping burgers or sipping lemonade, and suddenly you notice them: the ants.
They’re taking over your patio, sneaking off with crumbs like they own the place.
An ant or two might seem harmless at first, but that’s only until they start invading your kitchen, making trails across your living room floor, or building nests inside your walls.
But who, exactly, are the tiny culprits behind these intrusions? Maine is home to several types of ants, and each one brings its own set of challenges.
To help you get rid of these pests, we’re breaking down the different types of ants in Maine. Once you know what you’re up against, you’ll be much more successful in eliminating them for good.
Main Types of Ants in Maine
Ants may all look alike at first glance, but their differences go way beyond size. Whether you’re battling a trail of black ants or stumbled across a larger, more destructive species, understanding who (or what!) you’re up against is key to getting them out of your home for good.
Here’s a rundown of the usual suspects you’ll run into here in Maine.
1. Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are the big guys, measuring up to ½ inch long, and they’re infamous for tunneling into wood. Spotting one or two may not feel like a big deal, but carpenter ants don’t just wander in for snacks like other species of ants. Instead, they’re working hard to decimate your home’s wooden structures from the inside out.
Carpenter ants are mostly black but can have reddish tones. You might notice piles of fine sawdust (a.k.a. frass) near wood surfaces or faint rustling sounds inside your walls, especially at night when they’re most active.
They may not eat the wood like termites, but their tunneling can cause significant structural damage over time.
At PWI Pest Solutions, we’ll locate their nest and deal with them at the source, stopping their home renovation project in its tracks.
2. Black Ants
Black ants are the most common type of ants you’ll see around Maine. These ants march around in neat little lines, usually showing up wherever food has been left out. They’re small and sneaky, and while they’re annoying, they’re generally harmless… until it comes to sharing your snacks, that is.
These ants are tiny, usually only about 1/8 inch long, and jet black. You’ll probably spot entire armies of them and hopefully not in your sugar bowl.
Food contamination is arguably the biggest issue here. These ants can quickly get into pantry staples like cereal, sugar, and pet food.
To get rid of black ants, start by cleaning up! Make sure no crumbs, sticky spots, or spills are hanging around. Whenever possible, store your food in airtight containers. Then, call us to nip the issue in the bud if things get out of hand.
3. Pavement Ants
Next up, we’ve got the pavement ants. True to their name, they love to set up camp in cracks and crevices in your driveway, sidewalks, or even foundations. You’ll commonly see their tiny sand-like mounds on patios or around concrete foundations.
These ants are small, around 1/8 inch in size, and typically brownish-black. If you see piles of dirt near cracks in cement, it’s likely a sign of their subterranean activity.
Pavement ants are less interested in causing damage and more focused on scavenging every crumb of food they can find. But once inside, they can be tough to evict without professional help.
So, what can you do? Start by sealing up any cracks around the foundation of your home and make sure no food is left sitting out. If they’ve already breached the perimeter, we’ll step in to show them the exit.
4. Odorous House Ants
Odorous house ants get their name from the funky, rotten coconut smell they give off when squished. These ants love sugary foods and can become a major nuisance once they find their way inside.
Odorous house ants are somewhere between 1/16 and 1/8 inch long, dark brown to black in color. Look for trails heading toward the sweet stuff in your kitchen.
Aside from ruining your appetite, an odorous house ant infestation can grow quickly because they reproduce at an alarming rate. The longer you wait, the harder they are to contain.
To get rid of these pests, clean up food residue and store sweet snacks securely. If you suspect they’ve moved in, it’s time to give us a call.
How to Keep Ants Out of Your Home
Now that you know about the most common types of ants in Maine, it’s time to get proactive. Prevention is always better than scrambling to deal with a full-blown infestation, so here are a few quick tips to keep your home ant-free:
- Seal Cracks and Gaps: Ants love sneaking in through tiny openings, so check windows, doors, and your home’s foundation.
- Keep It Clean: Wiping down counters, sweeping up crumbs, and taking out the trash regularly can do wonders.
- Store Food Properly: Use airtight containers for pantry items, especially sugary or sticky foods. Ants have a sweet tooth!
- Eliminate Standing Water: Leaky faucets or puddles give ants the moisture they need to survive. Fix those drips.
- Inspect Firewood and Plants: Carpenter ants, in particular, might hitch a ride on firewood or outdoor plants, so keep an eye out.
Of course, even with the best prevention habits, ants can still find their way in. That’s where professional pest control comes into play.
Give Ants the Boot Today!
When DIY efforts don’t cut it or your ant problem spirals out of control, it’s time to hand things over to the experts.
At PWI Pest Solutions, we’re no strangers to battling even the most determined ant colonies.
Whether you’re dealing with carpenter ants in your walls or tiny black ants swarming your cereal box, our team knows exactly how to eliminate them and keep them from coming back.
We don’t just offer a quick fix. Our approach is all about solving the root of the problem and putting measures in place to prevent future infestations. You deserve to enjoy your home without worrying about sharing it with uninvited six-legged guests, and we’re here to make that happen.
Ants might be fascinating creatures when they’re outside doing their thing, but once they cross that line into your home, it’s game over.
Don’t wait for a carpenter ant invasion or a pantry full of odorous house ants to take action. Contact us at PWI Pest Solutions right here in Freeport, Maine, and we’ll help you reclaim your space…sans ants.
